The International School of St. Lucia (ISSL) has joined in on the island’s secondary schools’ sports programme for the first time this year and is currently taking part in four disciplines.
ISSL is a private school located in Rodney Bay. Established in 2006, it now has its own sports ground and students have been busy using the facility to hone their skills.
Principal Sharon Harrietha said ISSL was trying to get the students involved in sports as much as possible, and had sought and received recognition from the Ministry of Education to participate in national secondary school tournaments.
ISSL is already making its mark and recently took part in the national school’s football tournament. The captain of the football team is Dion Clement and coaches are Eric Cooper and Al Barthelmy.
Ms. Harrietha remarked that although the football team was not successful, it had nevertheless demonstrated “outstanding sportsmanship” which to her was equivalent to a victory.
“The sportsmanship and leadership that they portrayed on the field was amazing”, Harrietha said.
Grade 12 student Laura Bruce had the ISSL flag flying high in the swimming competition two weeks ago. Harrietha described Bruce as a very strong swimmer with many victories and medals under her belt.
Three other students Niall Ashworth, Michel Georgeos and Ronald Ramjattan are currently taking part in the schools’ tennis tournament and next week, four other students, Dylan Charles, Zack Ward, Kenatha Abernaty and Sunil Chitolie. will be involved in table tennis competition.
Meanwhile, ISSL students are in training for the schools’ national road race to be held in December.
Harrietha explained that as a private school, ISSL had to seek recognition from the Ministry of Education before it could take part in the national school sports programme.
She said: “As a private school it is very hard to get recognized. We are governed by the Ministry of Education in St Lucia but we have some different rules and policies as well, since our curriculum is accredited by the New Brunswick Ministry of Education in Canada.
“So it was very important to us to be recognized by the Ministry of Education as we are all in the same market, our students are students of Saint Lucia and student success is very important to us.”
Harrietha said the Ministry of Youth and Sport has done an outstanding job with national schools sports and has put together a calendar of events for the entire year.
The School’s football programme is under the direction of coach Peter Philogene who is assisted by Liam Peterkin.
